Village of Round Lake Beach - Beach Bulletin

Beach Bulletin Vol 7 No. 1

January 2003

Village begins second home renovation project
In its continuing effort to renovate and sell abandoned buildings, the Village of Round Lake Beach has purchased a home and a vacant lot at 26 and 28 N. Channel Drive. The house will be repaired and rehabbed, then sold.

The ultimate aim of the home-renovation project is to intervene and prevent vacant eyesores from dragging down the property values of the surrounding homes.

Village officials see these purchases as a way to encourage other homeowners to improve their property as well.

The first home purchased by the Village at 113 Woodland was renovated and sold to an area resident. The Village made a small profit on the sale and the money will be used towards the renovation of the second home.

Village officials believe this project benefits the entire community and helps improve property values.

Scenes from Santa Breakfast

Santa (aka Trustee Jerry Mattingly) takes requests from even the youngest kids.

Mayor Rich Hill (that's the back of his head) sells tickets at the Chamber of Commerce pancake breakfast.

Village receives OSLAD grant
The Village received another Open Spaces Land Acquisition and Development grant. The $500,000 matching OSLAD grant will be used for parkland development along the channel on the north side of the lake and continued improvements at the lakefront park.

Adopt a Classroom established
Having paper and pencilsin a classroom may seem like a normal occurrence, but in some classrooms, those basic tools are beyond the means of some families.

The Village of Round Lake Beach has established an "Adopt-a-Classroom" program for schools in District #116. Residents and business owners are encouraged to adopt a classroom by providing school supplies that may be needed to supplement those required by District #116.

In the past, many teachers have used their own money to provide supplies for children in their classrooms who cannot afford to purchase supplies. If you are interested in contributing school supplies, please contact the principals at any of the District #116 schools with your offer. They will be happy to give you suggestions as to what is needed.

News from the Mayor
2002 brought many accomplishments
This past year was another extraordinary year for the Village of Round Lake Beach. Our new Village Hall is nearly complete and we hope to occupy it very soon. The expanded facility will give our employees more space to meet the needs of our residents.
The old Village Hall has been sold to the Lake County Department of Health. After some renovation, they will move the clinic from its current location on Route 134 in Round Lake Park to the old Village Hall.

Lakefront renovations
If you didn't visit the Lakefront last summer, you owe it to yourself to stop by when the weather warms up. We expanded the beachfront, improved the boat launch, added a new restroom facility, installed a new playground and upgraded other amenities. Half of the money for the improvements came from an Open Spaces Land Acquisition and Development grant. Other improvements are planned for next year.

The Village received another OSLAD grant to continue improvements at the lakefront. The $500,000 matching grant will enable us to continue working on the 10 acres across the channel from the lake. This land will be used as a passive recreation area and to assist in storm-water management.

Infrastructure improvements
During the year, work continued on Juneway and Laurel with new water mains, storm sewers, curbs and gutters. The streets were repaved as well. Clarendon had a face lift with curbs, gutters, sidewalks and road resurfacing. Clarendon will be completed to Hainesville Road in 2003.

A new sidewalk was installed on Orchard Lane from Rollins Road north into the Country Walk subdivision. This makes it easier and safer for pedestrians leaving or going to the park district's skate park. You'll also notice the stoplight at Orchard and Rollins. This was a huge improvement to the flow of traffic at that intersection.

Grants received
In addition to the OSLAD grant mentioned earlier, we received a $25,000 grant for decorative lighting from Senator Adeline Geo-Karis for the area along the new sidewalk on Orchard Lane. This will improve safety along the street.

A Community Development Block Grant from the Lake County Board for $15,000 was used toward the purchase of the second house the Village will be rehabbing.

Awards
The Village received an Urban Innovations award for its partnership with the Meadowgreen Homeowners Association. The Village portion of infrastructure improvements, including new street lighting, has begun. We've already noticed a rise in the assessed valuation of this property.

Looking ahead
We've hired an economic development director to retain current businesses and to encourage others to join our family.

We look forward to another busy and productive year in Round Lake Beach during 2003. On behalf of the entire Village staff, the Trustees and myself, we hope the New Year brings peace and prosperity to all of our residents.

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For your information

Christmas tree pickup
Christmas trees will be picked up by Waste Management North on Monday, January 13. A truck will be driving through the entire village on that day. - Please remember, trees must not be in plastic bags or have garland or tinsel left on them. These will not be picked up. Trees over four feet tall must be cut in half.

Snow parking
Village ordinance prohibits parking on any Village street when there is one inch of snow or more. Residents are asked not to park on the Village streets for a period of up to eight hours after the snow stops falling or until snow removal operations are completed.

Please do not plow or shovel snow into the road from your property or driveway. Also, pile snow from your driveway on the right side of it (as you face the street) so the plows don't push it back into your driveway.

Water shut down in January
Some time during the month of January, the water system supply will be shut down for the installation of a new JAWA water storage tank in Grayslake. The Joint Action Water Agency has said the shutdown will not exceed 36 hours.

During this time, the Village will be relying on its wells to supplement the water in the towers and provide adequate water supplies to the entire village. Please conserve water during this period.

Systematic Inspections
The Systematic Inspection program (SIP) has been completed for 2002. Over 370 homes were inspected and only a few were found non-compliant.

Next year Ace, Sears and K-Mart have agreed to offer a 10 percent discount on building supplies to Round Lake Beach residents who are participating in the SIP. The program runs from April 1 through October 31, 2003. For more information, contact the Village's Economic Development Department at (847) 546-2351

Direct debit for water bills
Round Lake Beach residents may debit the charges for water bills directly from checking accounts. No more hunting for an envelope or stamp. The direct debit is safe and easy. You'll never miss a payment deadline. For more information, please call (847) 546-2351.

New businesses
Welcome to Alamo Insurance & Auto Sales at 119 W. Rollins Road, and EB Games on Rollins in the strip mall in front of Kohl's.

The new Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant will be completed by mid-January. It is located on Rollins Road next to the Auto Zone.

Direct debit for water bills
Round Lake Beach residents may debit the charges for water bills directly from checking accounts. No more hunting for an envelope or stamp. The direct debit is safe and easy. You'll never miss a payment deadline. For more information, please call (847) 546-2351.

Rental certification
If you have not applied for your 2003 rental certification, you are not in compliance with Village ordinance. Please call the Economic Development Department at (847) 546-2351 for more information on how to comply. All residential units in which the owner doesn't reside are covered under this ordinance.

Happy New Year from the Mayor, Trustees and village employees.
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Community Events

Chamber meeting features mayors
Area Mayors will be the featured speakers at the Round Lake Area Chamber of Commerce meeting on January 16, at Royal Banquets. For more information, please call Liz Evans at (847) 546-2002.

Million Pennies Drive
Looking for a way to get rid of all those pennies you've been collecting? The Round Lake Area Park District and Round Lake School District #116 are collaborating on a "Million Pennies Drive." The funds will be used to bring historical reenactors and their encampment to the five elementary schools for one week each in April and May. The children will step back in time and meet the voyageurs, French traders from the late 1600s, and residents of the Metis village, a hybrid of people of French and Indian descent. For more information, please call Peggy Dohr at (847) 546-8558.

Girl Scout cookies
Mints, Caramel Delites or any of the other varieties of Girl Scout cookies we all love are on sale now. The sale runs through January 26.

Library reading program
The Round Lake Area Library's Winter Reading Club runs January 18 - March 1. Books are Cool will feature various special programs during the winter to encourage children to read. Prizes will be awarded to children who read or listen to books. For more information or to register your child, stop in at the Library.

Senior lunch program
A senior lunch program has been implemented at the Round Lake Area Park District. Hot lunches are cooked on site, Monday-Friday, in the newly equipped kitchen at the Senior Center. Weekly menus home buying are available. Lunches cost $3. For more information, please call (847) 546-8558.

Cultural Arts Festival
The Round Lake Area Park District will host a Cultural Arts Festival on Saturday, February 8, from 1:00-5:00 pm at the Community Center. Area crafters and artists will demonstrate their crafts with hands-on workshops for children. Preregistration is required for the workshops. Please call Christi at (847) 546-8558 to register.
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First-time home buying is within reach
First-time home buyers have a unique opportunity to capitalize on low interest rates and a special loan program. The program is a cooperative venture between the Village of Round Lake Beach and the Illinois Housing Development Authority.

The IDHA loans may be used to purchase single-family homes, condos, townhouses, and multiple-flat units as long as the buyer lives in the home or one of the flats. First-time home buyers are those who haven't owned a home of their own in the last three years and meet other requirements.

Qualified applications may choose:
- 5.75 percent fixed-interest rate
- 6.0 percent fixed interest with up to $1,000 closing cost assistance
- 6.125 percent fixed interest with up to $1,500 closing cost assistance.

Want more information?
Please call Jeneen Smith-Underwood at (847) 546-2351, ext. 253,
or check out the web page at www.ihda.org

From the Police Department

Use caution on ice and ponds
The lure of frozen ponds and rivers is strong for many children and teens, but they pose a serious threat to safety. Bodies of water require many weeks of below freezing temperatures before they are safe enough to walk or skate on.

Caution your children about playing on frozen ponds or other bodies of water. Be especially careful near storm sewer inlets. The freeze-thaw cycle may not completely enable the water to stay frozen. Be careful along the shoreline as well.

Published Beach Bulletins

November 2004 Bulletin September 2004 Bulletin July 2004 Bulletin May 2004 Bulletin March 2004 Bulletin January 2004 Bulletin November 2003 Bulletin September 2003 Bulletin July 2003 Bulletin May 2003 Bulletin March 2003 Bulletin January 2003 Bulletin November 2002 Bulletin September 2002 Bulletin July 2002 Bulletin May 2002 Bulletin March 2002 Bulletin January 2002 Bulletin September 2001 Bulletin July 2001 Bulletin May 2001 Bulletin March 2001 Bulletin November 2000 Bulletin Fall 2000 Bulletin Summer 2000 Bulletin

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